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US 7,574,656 B2Granted
System and method for focused navigation within a user interface
AssigneeVulcan Ventures, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Billmaier, John M. Kellum, Anthony F. Istvan, Dewey M. Reid, Philip A. Rogan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.
Claims21
A method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, comprising:
- scrolling a first sequence of graphical representations of options along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the first sequence includes at least a first option, a second option, and a third option, and wherein each of the first, second, and third options is of a different type than the other two options;
- enabling scrolling of a particular graphical representation of an option from the first sequence into the focus area;
- and
- scrolling a second sequence of graphical representations of options along a second, perpendicular axis through the same spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the first and second sequences intersect to form quadrants within the user interface;
- scrolling a particular graphical representation of the first option into the focus area, wherein scrolling the graphical representation of the first option into the focus area automatically and without further user intervention results in the second sequence of graphical representations being repopulated with a plurality of different options relating to the first option;
- wherein the first option in the focus area is replaced with an option from the second sequence upon the first option being scrolled into the focus area, and wherein no option in the first sequence is included in the second sequence.
3 more elements
A system for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, comprising:
- a user input detector configured to detect input of a user;
- and
- a processor, coupled to the user input detector, configured to scroll a first sequence of graphical representations of options along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface in response to a first user input, wherein the first sequence includes at least a first option, a second option, and a third option, and wherein each of the first, second, and third options is of a different type than the other two options, wherein the processor is further configured to enable scrolling by a user of a particular graphical representation of an option of the first sequence into the focus area, wherein the processor is further configured to scroll a second sequence of graphical representations of options along a second, perpendicular axis through the same spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface in response to a second user input such that the first and second sequences intersect to form quadrants within the user interface, and wherein the processor is further configured to scroll a particular graphical representation of the first option into the focus area, wherein the processor is configured such that scrolling the graphical representation of the first option into the focus area automatically and without further user intervention results in the second sequence of graphical representations being repopulated with a plurality of different options relating to the first option;
- wherein the first option in the focus area is replaced with an option from the second sequence upon the first option being scrolled into the focus area, and wherein no option in the first sequence is included in the second sequence.
1 more element
An apparatus for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, comprising:
- means for scrolling, via an input device, a first sequence of graphical representations of options along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the first sequence includes at least a first option, a second option, and a third option, and wherein each of the first, second, and third options is of a different the than the other two options;
- means for enabling scrolling of a particular graphical representation of an option from the first sequence into the focus area;
- and
- means for scrolling, via an input device, a second sequence of graphical representations of options along a second, perpendicular axis through the same spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the first and second sequences intersect to form quadrants within the user interface;
- means for scrolling a particular graphical representation of the first option into the focus area, wherein the means for scrolling the graphical representation of the first option into the focus area automatically and without further user intervention results in the second sequence of graphical representations being repopulated with a plurality of different options relating to the first option;
- wherein the first option in the focus area is replaced with an option from the second sequence upon the first option being scrolled into the focus area, and wherein no option in the first sequence is included in the second sequence.
3 more elements
A computer-readable storage medium comprising program code for performing a method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the method comprising:
- scrolling a first sequence of graphical representations of options along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the first sequence includes at least a first option, a second option, and a third option, and wherein each of the first, second, and third options is of a different type than the other two options;
- enabling scrolling of a particular graphical representation of an option from the first sequence into the focus area;
- and
- scrolling a second sequence of graphical representations of options along a second, perpendicular axis through the same spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the first and second sequences intersect to form quadrants within the user interface;
- scrolling a particular graphical representation of the first option into the focus area, wherein scrolling the graphical representation of the first option into the focus area automatically and without further user intervention results in the second sequence of graphical representations being repopulated with a plurality of different options relating to the first option;
- wherein the first option in the focus area is replaced with an option from the second sequence upon the first option being scrolled into the focus area, and wherein no option in the first sequence is included in the second sequence.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.